Explaining Dressing skills

1 Children's OT Developing Dressing skills December Page 1 of 5 Adapted with kind permission from Northumberland PCT Children s Occupational Therapy Service Explaining Dressing skills Success is important; therefore begin with breaking the Dressing activity into small, straightforward steps. Tackle one step at a time and give help where needed with the other steps of the task, help the child to pull the t-shirt over their head and then allow them to put their arms through the sleeves. Dressing can be a complex activity. Children need to be able to master a number of skills .

2 These include: Motor skills where a child needs to be able to move his or her limbs and body in a full range of movements requiring muscle strength and flexibility at their joints. Co-ordination where a child needs to be able to create co-ordinated movements, using one arm and both arms . A child also needs the control of hand movement that require fine motor skills , such as fastening buttons. Balance being able to maintain their balance whilst changing posture/position both with eyes open and shut. Fine Motor skills being able to reach, grasp and release objects in order to complete tasks such as buttoning or holding the item of clothing.

3 Perception having an understanding of various sizes and shapes of buttons and also knowing the size of arm holes. Stereognosis being able to feel their way without relying on sight such as finding arm holes with a jumper over his or her head or fastening buttons behind at the back. Body Schema being able to tell right from left and the difference between arms and legs. General Principles Ensure that your child is sitting in a stable position, on the floor (where it is easier for children to reach their feet) or sitting on a chair or firm bed with his or her feet supported.

4 If sitting balance is poor, try sitting against a wall. Some children may sit better in a corner where both walls give added support. Alternatively stand against a wall. Sit next to, in front of, or directly behind your child during activity and guide him or her through the task. Undressing is usually easier than Dressing . Dress in front of the mirror to provide visual cues and use to check all is correct before going out. Start with undressing. Undressing before bed and helping to put on pyjamas is a good time to start as you have more time at night than in the morning. Follow a consistent sequence and technique when Dressing : o Clothes can be placed in a pile in the order in which they need to be put on.

5 O Follow the same technique for each garment, t-shirt is put over the head first and then the arms are put through the sleeves. o The order and technique can be written down so that it can be followed by other carers and school staff. You could use pictures as a visual prompt to help your child remember the clothing order/technique. Describe actions and parts of the body as you are helping your child to dress, eg put right foot in, now stand up whilst I pull your trousers up your legs. Instead of automatically correcting a mistake, get your child to look (maybe in a mirror) and feel if all is correct.

6 Then encourage them to identify and sort out what needs to be done, T-shirt needs pulling down; shoes feel wrong because they are on the opposite feet. Try to avoid fastenings, tight clothes and lots of layers. Instead use loose fitting clothing, tracksuits, sweatshirts. Use clothes with wide neck and arm holes to make it easier to locate these. Initially it may be easier to practise with clothing a size too big. Try not to watch all the time; your child may do more when left alone. Children's OT Developing Dressing skills December Page 2 of 5 Adapted with kind permission from Northumberland PCT Children s Occupational Therapy Service Development of Dressing skills Dressing should not be seen as a chore.

7 Try to keep it fun by playing Dressing up games and Dressing toys. When Dressing dolls, try using a doll which your child can relate to as being of a similar age. This will give your child a clearer idea of how to organise Dressing . DEVELOPMENT OF Dressing skills (Mary Sheridan Children s developmental progress) 12 months Helps with Dressing by holding out arm for sleeve and foot for shoe. Cooperative in Dressing . Likes to pull shoes off. 18 months Takes off shoes, socks, hat but rarely able to put back on. 2 years Puts on hat and shoes. Removes unfastened coat.

8 Helps push down garments Finds arm holes in t-shirt 2 1/2 years Tries to put on socks Undresses loose pull down garments 3 years Able to put on shoes without fastening (may be wrong foot) Can pull zips up and down, but unable to insert or separate shank. 4 years T-Shirt on/off independently but may be back to front. Pull up garments on independently 5 years Dresses and undresses independently but may still need help with small buttons, zips and laces. Clothing may still be put on back-to front on occasion. These ages are a guide only, but can help determine a young child s readiness for Dressing independently.

9 Pre- Dressing skills Activities Musical Dressing up (a variation of musical chairs): the children put items of clothing on from a pile until the music stops, at the end of the game the child with the most clothes on is the winner. Using a variety of large shirts or smocks, get the children to get ready for wet play, painting or cooking. Button boards, play cubes, cloth button or popper books to give the child practice types of fastenings. Dressing dolls give good practice opportunities Matching sock game. Place a variety of socks in a pile, and your child has to find pairs and put them on.

10 Package wrapping. Making parcels and tying them up with different sorts of ties. Play Simon Says and get your child to identify various body parts. Do the hokey cokey as a way to learn left from right. Completing threading activities. Getting them to copy a pattern of various sized beads on thread (wool is better for larger beads) to improve pattern recognition. Adapt the task by getting the child to pull desired bead from bag. Complete lacing activities using lacing boards to develop fine motor skills such as grip, release and eye-hand co-ordination. A shoe shaped piece of card or shoe box with holes in can be used to practise lacing and tying shoes.